Pipe for underground electrical conductors



(No Model.)

H. C. SPALDING. PIPE FOR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL UONDUUTORS. No. 327,475. Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

WITNESSES INVENTEJR n. mum mum-rim. Wm

lower sections,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. SPALDING, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIPE FOR UNDERGROUN D ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,475, dated September 29,1885.

Application filed February 23, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. SPALDING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipes for Under ground Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pipes or conduits for underground electric conductors, and is an improvement on the special form of sectional conduit shown and described in other applications filed by me. The improvement is in the means for branching a main orsingle conduit into two or more small ones; and it consists in a forked or branched section of special construction combined with a single or straight section having a number of superposed blocks of fusible insulating material forming wire-supports in its spigot end; and it also consists in a novel combination of the forked section, as will be more fully described.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a forked or branched pipe-section with an adjacent straight sec tion. Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal central sectional view, of the same.

The pipe or conduit which forms the subject of my other applications, above referred to, is partly shown in the drawings.

A and B are respectively the upper and made of cast-iron or other suit- The under section, B, has a rib or flange, 0, extending from end to end along its edge, and into this the upper sec tion, A, fits, its position being shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1. On each section are lugs, as a, which are used to hold the sec tions together when the links Z) are forced over them. In the sections A are also the openings (1, for the introduction of an insulating material or for gaining access to the wires.

My improvement consists in the combination, with such a pipe-section as I have now described, of the forked or branched section shown in the drawings.

The portion G, that fits over the spigot end ofa straight pipe-section, is of the same diameter as the sleeve end of the straight sections. The forked section is also composed able material.

of upper and lower sections, 0 D, and the upper part or section is tapered, as shown, and both sections are divided, forming the two branches E F. The edges of the forked section are formed in a similar manner to those of the straight sections-that is to say, the under part has a rib or flange, 0, in which the upper part fits, as shown in dotted lines, and both parts are provided with lugs a, over which links I) are forced to hold the two parts together. An opening, at, is also provided for the introduction of insulating material, or as a means of affording access to the wires.

In running the wires from the main or straight section into the branches I use a number of superposed grooved segmental blocks, one of which is shown in Fig. 3. I fill the ends of the straight sections with a series of these blocks, and stretch the wires between them, laying them in the grooves. The blocks are composed of a plastic insu lating material, which is softened to some extent by the fluid insulating material which is poured into the pipes, and thus firmly united together. They prevent the displacement of the wires, which would otherwise have a tendency to spread when carried off into the branches.

By forming the forked sections in two parts in the manner described I have greatly reduced theeost of.- the pipes and the trouble involved in laying them.

The insulation of the wires is very readily effected, and the wires carried off into the proper branches with great case.

What I claim is 1. In a pipe for carrying or conveying electrical conductors, the combination, with a straight section, of a forked section adapted to fit the straight section and tapered into two branches of smaller diameter, a series of superposed segmental blocks placed in the end of the straight section, and conductingwires laid between said blocks and carried into the branches of the forked section, as set forth.

2. In a pipe or tube for carrying or con veying electric conductors, the combination, with a straight section composed of upper and lower parts suitably joined, of a longitudinally-dividcd forked or branch section adapted to fit the end of the straightsection and tapered on the upper side into branches witnesses.

of smaller size, each part of the forked section being provided with lugs for securing the two parts together, all substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in presence of the two subscribing HENRY O. SPALDING. 'Witnesses:

SANFORD H. DUDLEY,

ALEX. L. HAYES. 

